US Announces $18.5 Million In Aid Funding For Zambia

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a further $18.5 million in U.S. Government funding to support the people of Zambia, including in the country’s fight against Covid-19.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced the decision on Thursday during a meeting with President Hakainde Hichilema in Washington. In light of the new president’s early efforts to strengthen Zambia’s democratic institutions, Ms Power promised funding of $1.25 million to help bolster democracy and freedom of expression in Zambia as part of the overall aid package.

$6.7 million has been pledged as part of the American Rescue Plan to help Zambia recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. So far the U.S. has sent more than $33.9 million in Covid aid to Zambia, as well as providing vaccines to fully inoculate over 300,000 Zambians. 

Ms Power also announced that $9.6 million will be sent to help bolster HIV/AIDs programmes in Zambia, which have themselves been undermined by Covid-19. Since 2020, the US has provided more than $734.3 million to help fight HIV/AIDS in the southern African country.

Finally, $1 million in FY 20 Power Africa Clean Energy Funds will be sent to strengthen Zambia’s energy sector and to expand access to electricity, particularly for health services. 

President Hichilema is currently visiting the United States to take part in a number of high level meetings, including at the United Nations General Assembly. On Tuesday, he delivered his maiden speech to the assembly, informing world leaders of his plans to revitalise and reform Zambia’s economy.

On Wednesday, the president became the first African leader to visit the White House since U.S. President Joe Biden was elected. There he met with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who applauded HH for his focus on “prioritising necessary reforms and his efforts to stabilise and grow the Zambian economy.” 

President Hichilema is also expected to meet with representatives from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund this week. No firm date has been made public but it is likely the group will discuss a potential IMF bailout for Zambia, which the president has previously indicated as a priority for his administration.